12 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 1
scendental knowledge. With advanced knowledge, he always
engaged in discussing spiritual subjects and did not divert his at-
tention to anything else. The Prince’s father then asked him to
take charge of ruling the world. He tried to convince Priyavrata
that this was his duty as indicated in the revealed scriptures. Prince
Priyavrata, however, was continuously practicing bhakti-yoga by
constantly remembering the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
thus engaging all his senses in the service of the Lord. Therefore,
although the order of his father could not be rejected, the Prince
did not welcome it. Thus he very conscientiously raised the ques-
tion of whether he might be diverted from devotional service by
accepting the responsibility of ruling over the world.
PURPORT

Srila Narottama dasa Thakura has sung, chddiya vaisnava-seva
nistara payeche keba: ‘Without serving the lotus feet of a pure Vaisnava
or spiritual master, no one has ever attained perfect liberation from
material bondage.’ Prince Priyavrata regularly served the lotus feet of
Narada, and thus the Prince perfectly understood transcendental sub-
jects in truth (sa-tattvah). The word sa-tattvah means that Priyavrata
knew all the facts about the spirit soul, the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, and the relationship between the spirit soul and the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, and he also knew all about this material world
and the relationship of the spirit soul and the Supreme Lord within the
material world. Thus the Prince decided to engage himself only in ren-
dering service to the Lord.

When Priyavrata’s father, Svayambhuva Manu, requested him to ac-
cept the responsibility of ruling over the world, he did not welcome the
suggestion. This is the symptom of a great, liberated devotee. Even
though engaged in worldly affairs, he does not take pleasure in them, but
remains always absorbed in the Lord’s service. While thus serving the
Lord, he deals externally with worldly affairs without being affected. For
example, although he has no attraction for his children, he cares for
them and educates them to become devotees. Similarly, he speaks to his
wife with affectionate words, but he is not attached to her. By rendering
devotional service, a devotee acquires all the good qualities of the
